10 Movies To Help You Survive a Family-Filled Thanksgiving

It’s nearly Thanksgiving, the one time of year we travel hundreds of miles to be with our families so that we can spend Christmas with the people we really like without enduring a whole lot of extra guilt. If you find yourself surrounded by family this November, there’s no better way to endure the togetherness than to cozy up and force them to be quiet while you watch a good movie. Here are ten suggestions designed to please even the harshest of critics.

10. Four Brothers

Have an action movie fan in the house? Get the kids out of the room and throw on John Singleton’s Four Brothers, starring Mark Wahlberg and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The film unravels with breakneck speed (and awesome action) as four adopted brothers look for the person responsible for their mother’s death on and around the Thanksgiving holiday.

9. Dutch

One of Ed O’Neil’s rare film roles, Dutch follows a gruff but well-meaning oaf as he transports his girlfriend’s spoiled son home for the Thanksgiving holiday. A rare film that’s as funny as it is heartfelt, Dutch showcases a side of the Modern Family star that’s wasn’t captured on film until recently.

8. Funny People

Okay, so we can all admit that Funny People is not Judd Apatow’s best film. It’s pretty dramatic, and the last bit is a touch self-indulgent, but those flaws aside, it’s still a remarkable movie filled with hilarious, poignant moments. The film never does a better job of blending those two tones than when Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and a who’s who of young comedians sit down for a Thanksgiving feast.

7. Grumpy Old Men

Throughout their legendary careers, Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon were in too many films to name. The dynamic duo never slowed down, though, putting out gems until their last days. Among that incredible content was 1993’s Grumpy Old Men which saw the pair battling for the affections of a newcomer to their small Minnesota town around the Thanksgiving holiday. Even though its stars are wrinkly, the film hasn’t aged a bit in the two decades since its release.

6. Spider-Man

Forgotten in the recent tidal wave of comic-inspired movies, Sam Raimi’s 2002 Spider-Man was actually at the forefront of the trend. It was one of the first films to show the world that comic book movies could be both awesome and high quality. One of the film’s most iconic confrontations — between the Green Goblin and the webslinger in a burning building — actually takes place on Thanksgiving Day.

5. Addams Family Values

Okay, so it’s not technically set at Thanksgiving, but it does feature a “traditional Thanksgiving play” that’s as offensive as it is gut-bustlingly funny. Toss in a glorious performance from a young Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams and you don’t need much more of a reason to watch the delightfully demented Addams Family Values. It’s a good one for the whole family to watch together.

4. Rocky

While not classically linked to Thanksgiving, one of Rocky’s most harrowing scenes actually takes place at an intimate family dinner … when the buffoonish Paulie shows up three sheets to the wind. Even though the thrust of the film takes place outside the holiday, it’s never a bad time to start up Sylvester Stallone’s inspiring story of an unconquerable spirit. Consider it a refresher before catching the seventh sequel, Creed, which opens this Thanksgiving weekend.

3. Son In Law

Is it possible to enjoy a movie ironically? If you answered yes to that question, then you should absolutely watch Pauly Shore’s Son In Law, probably the best of his brief series of “Pauly Shore comes in and makes the squares lighten up … buuuuuuu-dy” series of films. This iteration sees Shore using his unique brand of comedy to help some stereotypical rural types unwind from the Thanksgiving holiday.

2. For Your Consideration

Christopher Guests’ side-splitting exploration of the Hollywood grinder begins with the creation of a small film called Home for Purim. Unfortunately, the title is deemed to be “too Jewish” and the indie film is renamed Home for Thanksgiving. And that’s just one small part of this wonderfully acidic comedy led by Catherine O’Hara.

1. Planes, Trains and Automobiles

If you’re going to pick just one movie to watch this Thanksgiving, make it Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the incredibly funny story of the most hellish Thanksgiving journey ever undertaken (except maybe the first one). Anchored by Steve Martin and John Candy, the story of two men simply trying to get home becomes one of film history’s most enduring buddy comedies.